Berlin is quite special when compared to other European cities, as each district has its own center. Berlin consists of twelve districts in total – each with its own distinctive charm and image. Besides Chancellor Merkel, fashion reigns in “Mitte”; “Neu-Kölln” is transforming from problematic into trendy; “Prenzlauer Berg” is family friendly; “Kreuzberg” is multicultural; and “Friedrichshain” stronghold of an alternative lifestyle.

Since the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, the competition between Berlin’s various centers has been resurrected and it is this variety that makes Berlin special. As Berlin is a very big city, you should choose the location of your room/apartment carefully in order not to spend an hour or more per day on public transport.

If you prefer to live near the GUC Berlin Campus and yet want to have a good connection to the inner city the best neighborhoods to look at are Tegel, Wedding and Mitte (along the metro/U-Bahn line 6). Other areas relatively close to the campus are Charlottenburg-Nord, Siemensstadt and Moabit.

Due to the growing demand and increasing rental prices, it is now more difficult to find a room or apartment in Berlin than a few years ago. Therefore, please start looking for your accommodation well in advance. There are several accommodation options you may want to consider:

Rented apartments through GUC

• The GUC has reserved a number of furnished apartments for GUC students. Most apartments are shared by 2-3 students. Please be aware that there are only a limited number of rooms and apartments available. If you decide to book one of these rooms we highly recommend you to register as early as possible. Once all our rooms are taken, you will have to look for accommodation on your own. For more information please refer to:
  • Ms. Mariam Elsadat: mariam.elsadat (at GUC Cairo)
  • Mr. Mohamed Salem: mohamad.salem (at GUC Berlin)

Furnished apartments

• Apart from individual housing offers, there are real estate agencies offering simple furnished apartment for short stays (couple of months) targeting international students. You can assume that apartments offered through such agencies are serious and trustworthy offers.

Hostels (temporary accommodation)

• There are hundreds of hostels in Berlin which offer a very basic, low budget accommodation. There are rooms for up to 8 people. Please make sure to carefully choose the right room in order not to end up sharing a room with strangers of mixed-gender. Consider that the rooms are small, space is limited (for your personal belongings, to study, etc.) and neighbors might be loud. The best way to find a hostel is to “google” hostels in the area you would like to live in or through using a booking website such as www.booking.com.

Student apartments

• https://neonwood.com/
• https://thestudenthotel.com/
• https://wunderflats.com/
• https://smartments-student.de/

Please download the GUC Berlin Housing Guide for more information regarding:

1. Geographic and administrative structure of Berlin
2. GUC Berlin Campus location
3. Usage of public transportation system
4. Advice on how to find accommodation
5. Rental contracts – basic essentials
6. German housing terms and abbreviations